Hot Weather Warning!

[Wiebke]

With hot weather predicted over the next few days, please protect your guinea pigs! If it is hot for you, it is hot for your guinea pigs, too!

This goes especially for any guinea pigs in hutches and sheds or exposed lawn runs, which can quickly become death traps. Read how to recognise the early signs and what you can do in the link below.
Heat stroke can kill guinea pigs!


Make sure that you keep a close eye on any frail, ill and/or elderly piggies because the hot weather is putting additional pressure on them.

Please read through the list of what you can do to keep your piggies safe.
Hot Weather Management And Heat Strokes

 

[rome_italy]

here in Italy the only official rescue we have has put a warning on its facebook and website page: their vet recommend to keep wet the ears of the piggies. He says that they can waste heat from their ears. I don't know if it is true, but that vet is very esteemed here. We have 35-40°C now (in the shadow).
Another thing we always do, although it is not so eco-friendly: I have read of someone here who had to postpone a vet visit because into the car, even with air conditioning on, it was too hot: we keep the windows open for a minute, then we switch on the engine, switch on air conditioning, close every window and stay outside the car for at least 10 minutes. When the temperature inside is not dangerous for our health, we go inside. We are recommended to do that especially for driving with little children, old people and pets. It is not good for the car engine and for the ambient, but honestly I don't care... Into my car yesterday the temperature was 60°C! It was impossible even to touch the steering wheel...

 

[Flutterby]

We have all the blackout blinds down in the house, the fans are on and ice packs are at the ready if needed. Thankfully the blinds are doing their job of keeping the room cool.

 

[DM030819]

Like flutterby mentions, it might sound odd but closing the curtains really helps.

My pigs are in the warmest room in the house so they don't get too cold at winter. But that's not so great in summer.

I started closing the curtains as from last year and it really makes a difference.

 

[Wiebke]

Coming from Switzerland, I really miss the outside shutters and blinds that keep the sun from getting on the glass in the first place, but I do my best to air the house overnight and in the morning, so it is as cool as possible in the first place. Once indoors and outdoors temperatures are the same, I close the windows with just a little air flow and pull all the curtains on the sunny side. That really makes a difference, even if I feel like a troglodyte at times!
Opening all the windows wide and letting the sun in when it is 30 C or higher, just heats up the living area even worse.

Placing a damp towel over the cages also helps to cool down the surrounding air as the water slowly evaporates.

PS: It is one of the tips in the guide. The guide is not just about keeping your guinea pigs from overheating, but also for keeping your home as cool as possible in the first place.